There are zero reasons for a 7 year old to be exposed to the level of violence displayed in a CoD or Mature rated game. There is an over-flowing abundance of other entertainment options that are both fun and age-appropriate. If you are allowing a child to play these games (and glorify them to the point of turning it into a themed party) you have failed horribly at the adult decision making process.
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I went to a 7-year old's CoD themed b-day party
- Thread starter The Lamp
- Start date
travisbickle
Member
Just wait till he's 10 and has the hardcore porn website themed party.
This is something to be determined on a case by case basis; I watched rated R films as a kid and turned out alright, but a different kid in a different situation might not respond well to that kind of entertainment. If this kid is emotionally/intellectually mature enough to enjoy CoD and his parents approve of it, then it's probably fine.
It's their child and they feel comfortable with him watching it. I asked the kid why he likes horror movies so much and he said he loves the old ones because they looked gooie and he hasn't been scared yet. He also said he pauses the movie if he's watching it by himself if he knows or sees naked people for his parents to fast foward because naked people are creepy. Lol.. he didn't really answer my question. He's a good kid.
Your post is a perfect example of a opinion and you shared it.
Yeah sorry I'm not comfortable with proliferating gun culture in this country.
BetterThanNothing
Member
"Video games are for kids"
Or just shitty parenting
Or just shitty parenting
That game came out 5 years ago. Even then, kids don't play it for the campaign, they play it for the multiplayer.
Psychoward
Banned
Cod is more grounded than those two though and in first person too.
Spieler Eins
Member
At least they'd be fantasy instead of military porn that plays into the US' deranged gun/war culture.
Fahzgoolin
Banned
I wonder if all the people saying "I played X and watched Y when I was a kid and turned out fine" are just delusional people that are actually horrible individuals.
GKSilKamina
Member
Definitely inappropriate. Then again my parents thought it was perfectly fine to take me to R-rated movies when I was a little kid, so who knows. They also had no qualms against my brother and I playing Mortal Kombat.
The only thing they ever "banned" us from was Beavis & Butt-Head, and that's only because we picked up the word "stupid" from that show.
I will say that there were several occasions while working retail when I saw parents buying Call of Duty for kids so young they couldn't properly say the name ("Cawadoody", "Call of Doody", etc). Little boys normally learned about the games from watching an older brother, dad, cousin or uncle playing them. I usually did warn the parents about the stuff that was in the game if they ended up at my register.
The only thing they ever "banned" us from was Beavis & Butt-Head, and that's only because we picked up the word "stupid" from that show.
I will say that there were several occasions while working retail when I saw parents buying Call of Duty for kids so young they couldn't properly say the name ("Cawadoody", "Call of Doody", etc). Little boys normally learned about the games from watching an older brother, dad, cousin or uncle playing them. I usually did warn the parents about the stuff that was in the game if they ended up at my register.
Fair point. I just personally don't see how a kid playing mostly multiplayer games of CoD with his friends is gonna be seriously impacted by this compared to far more violent games as well as all the unfiltered crap on the internet they're being exposed to.
I'm guessing that if the parents know their kid well enough to throw him an entire party based around a video game, they probably know what's in it and have come to the conclusion that he is mature enough to play those games.
Obviously I'm assuming a lot, they could of course be crappy parents who couldn't care less what their kid is exposed to and the kid isn't even close to being mature enough to be playing CoD.
Shadow Broker
Banned
NVM
I wonder if all the people saying "I played X and watched Y when I was a kid and turned out fine" are just delusional people that are actually horrible individuals.
They could never prove I did it! They'll never find the bodies!!
AtomskEater
Member
I probably wouldn't be exposing my hypothetical 7 year old to those kinds of games. If they want to play, they'll need to sneak sessions in at their friend's house like I did.
Like someone else said, there's a glut of age-appropriate entertainment.
Like someone else said, there's a glut of age-appropriate entertainment.
TheLostBigBoss
Banned
I remember playing MGS2 when I was eight.
I mean, I didn't have an MGS2 theme party where we planted pretend bombs around the house and had the kids disarm them...
Hmm
I mean, I didn't have an MGS2 theme party where we planted pretend bombs around the house and had the kids disarm them...
Hmm
thiscoldblack
Unconfirmed Member
Kid needs to watch the entire Omaha beach scene from Saving Private Ryan. Let's see if he wants bullets and grenades on his next birthday cake.
TheLostBigBoss
Banned
The only thing that's going to do is want them to play COD WWII
Just like how all the kids got to D-Day for like half a decade during the WWII shooter craze in the PS2 era
I don't blame you, especially if you're not White.
I'm a White-passing Syrian, born in the States with two immigrant parents. I think military shit that glorifies war is some of the most problematic content you could give to children, I would genuinely have less of a problem showing my kids DOOM (although I still wouldn't do that until they were at least 11 or 12 honestly) over something that has more realistic potential ramifications like CoD. I really wouldn't want my kids thinking that shit is normal.
Edit - you deleted your post so I edited it out
I think you overestimate the influence videogames have on people.
Edit: Especially considering this kid will probably never touch the campaign of these games.
MoneyLaunderer
Member
I'm a parent to an 8 year old boy and in no way will I let him play CoD or any other M rated game. I struggle letting him play some Teen games. Not overthinking this one bit. Just trying to be a good parent.
Spieler Eins
Member
It's a military themed party for 7 year olds. If you don't see how this is both reflective of- and further cultivating a problematic culture, I don't know what to tell you. This would be a parody in any other 1st world country.
El_Cinefilo
Member
Trigonometrize.
Member
Semi-realistic war should never be glorified until the kid is old enough for a history class to learn about what it actually is. Period. Get out of here with your anecdotal "well I did all this bullshit when I was a kid and I turned out fine" evidence which means nothing and your weird "it's the parents' kid and they can do what they want with it" statements, as if society should ever let parents live in a bubble with their kids that will grow up to live in it without being challenged. What a bizarre statement. OP said he's family anyway.
Shadow Broker
Banned
Thanks for the consideration. I almost derailed the thread once and wanted make sure that paticular post didn't.
The thing is. I agree with you IF that's what you want to do and feel appropriate for your kids. Kids are different from child to child and who SHOULD know who that child is if it's not a parent. IF a parent feels that their kid is capable and responsible enough to handle horror movies or COD at that age it's their call because they are the ones putting in the time and effort in raising that child. This is where my opinion differs from you and other Gaf members.
Lmao wow yes allowing a fucking child to watch horror movies is bad, what the fuck? Allowing a 5 year old to watch those movies is wrong. Why the fuck do you think that 13 year old cant watch them? Maybe because they actually fucking caused them some mental trauma because they saw them at such a young age??? Holy shit
I'm not seeing how it hurts the child in any way. If you'd like to show me some data on how throwing a COD themed birthday party for a 7 year old will turn him into a jingoistic gun nut, please feel free to provide it.
Assuming the parents are doing a good job, then the kid understands that call of duty is fiction and not to attempt to copy anything from it in real life.
You could just as easily not expose him to call of duty and have him turn out to be a jingoistic gun nut anyway by his own choice or thanks to his parents imparting their own values onto him.
When I was 7 the graphical violence of an Atari 2600, Intellivision and NES, were nothing compared to today's explicit graphics.
Also, I was never allowed to watch movies like Platoon, Rambo or Predator at that age, I didn't watch them until I was 12 or older. I probably complained about not being allowed to watch a movie like that at the time, but looking back now, I think that was ok.
So since games now are so realistic, I would not let a kid play such games.
Also, I was never allowed to watch movies like Platoon, Rambo or Predator at that age, I didn't watch them until I was 12 or older. I probably complained about not being allowed to watch a movie like that at the time, but looking back now, I think that was ok.
So since games now are so realistic, I would not let a kid play such games.
What does this even mean
Agree it's inappropriate, glorifying weapons of war isn't cool at that age. My nephew of the same age loves his nerf gun and Laser pistols, which I'm comfortable with as it's fantastical, but we wouldn't theme a party and bake a cake with a grenade WTF, that's excessive even as an adult.
poodaddy
Member
No, it's fucking twisted. My daughter is about to be six and I wouldn't let her anywhere near a game with such realistic and feasible violence and parents that do are really odd to me. Splatoon, sure. Mario, awesome. Five Nights at Freddy's, why not? Minecraft, hey it's good for her creativity. Sonic, hey cute animals good stuff. Call of Duty, mother fucking assault rifles and explosives ripping human beings to shreds in just the way you'd do if you were in an infantry unit downrange. Kids have no business playing that shit.
Shadow Broker
Banned
So you do support big brother programs! Lol...
I'm passed this. You say this and I'm willing to bet there's atleast a few million citizens around the world who are actively living good, honest, and normal lives and they have watched the horror movies and M rated games at a young age. Hell I know quite a few who grew up on call of duty at that young age and spoiler ahead. They're pretty great young adults.
It sounds like you're the type that's above everyone else. Your opinion is > other people's reality. Hey you! You're a great mom!?!?! Bullshit!!! You don't meet my standards!!!! I know your kid better than you!!!! No!! Your kid is mentally ill because of your parenting!!!!
This is how I read your post just now.
Soapbox Killer
Grand Nagus
Case by case basis. As a father a 5 I would have to decide based on which kid was asking for it.
Also I was fairly young when I was watching Robocop and Terminator and basically any 80's Action Movie so I guess it depends on the kid.
Also I was fairly young when I was watching Robocop and Terminator and basically any 80's Action Movie so I guess it depends on the kid.
When I was a kid we had Conker's Bad Fur Day, Goldeneye, Perfect Dark & Resident Evil.
Call of Duty in comparison looks sanitised.
We even got to watch South Park in our household, but only if we were good, so in a way you can use these types of media to encourage good behaviour if you parent well.
As long as the kid is mature enough to understand it's only a game then I don't see an issue.
The biggest problem here is that people are justifying showing kids these things on the off chance they come out perfectly fine, which is literally the exact reason WHY they souldnt be exposed.
When theres a chance of emotional/mental trauma to something, you should TRY to avoid exposing them to that. Not use the opposite chances to justify showing them it. Like... why would you ever purposely take the chances of letting your kid possibly get problems from that when you can easily stop it.
When theres a chance of emotional/mental trauma to something, you should TRY to avoid exposing them to that. Not use the opposite chances to justify showing them it. Like... why would you ever purposely take the chances of letting your kid possibly get problems from that when you can easily stop it.
Power Shot
Member
That's pretty inappropriate. I honestly can't believe kids that young play COD, or that parents haven't bothered to be informed at this point about games.
poodaddy
Member
You also ended up joining the Marine Corp and I ended up joining the Army. Let's not pretend that the cultural influence that led to us joining the military didn't start affecting us at a very young age. That glorification does more than most folks realize, and the seed can be planted very early with surprisingly peaceful, family friendly products. Not saying that I regret joining the Army or that you regret the Corp, but it definitely bears noting.
Forsaken82
Member
Were Army Men games on N64 inappropriate?
Lol it's actually rated T for Teen. America is unbelievable.
There's a HUGE fucking difference between imagining a war with plastic toys as a 6 or 7 year old, and playing a video game where the violence is actually depicted. The ESRB is consistent with that rating.
It's like making the argument that stealing a box of cookies from the grocery store is OK because you got away with stealing a cookie from the cookie jar in the Kitchen when you were a 5 year old.
I also repeatedly watched Robocop when I was VERY young. Havent killed anyone yet!
So I guess you'd ban children from watching The Lion King or Bambi?
I mean nothing in Call of Duty is going to get the emotional response as those films, so surely by your reasoning we should censor them from kids.
Or Who Framed Roger Rabbit, one of my favourite childhood films but filled with fucked up stuff, I wouldn't deprive a kid of 10 or so from viewing that.
I support censoring children from seeing fucked up shit and ruining their innocence, yes. Holy shit. Just because SOME come out fine why would you take the chance when some MIGHT NOT???? You could actively prevent future complications but no. Let the babies have their graphic realistic violence and gore. Because i came out fine, who cares if they possibly dont.
WOWOWOW equating lifelike depictions of genocide and war to soft sentimental stories meant to ease children into the idea of death. Wow
And im not talking about 10 year olds. 10/11/12 i really dont care about what they play. This is about 5-7 year olds